Information Handling System Docking with Coordinated Power and Data Communication

ABSTRACT

A docking station connects through a docking port and docking cable with an information handling system to support communication between the information handling system and docking station peripherals. On initial interface, one data lane of the docking port establishes a temporary management interface, such as an I2C management bus, to configure the docking station. After configuration, a docking manager, virtual wireless access point and power block cooperate to assign data lanes of the docking port and wireless communication resources to information transfer and power transfer functions based upon processing and communication tasks performed at the information handling system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Information HandlingSystem Docking with Coordinated Power and Data Communication,” inventorsErnesto Ramirez, Christian L. Critz, Liam B. Quinn, and Sean P. O'Neal,Attorney Docket No. DC-101871.01, filed on same day herewith, describesexemplary methods and systems and is incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Information HandlingSystem Docking with Coordinated Power and Data Communication,” inventorsErnesto Ramirez, Christian L. Critz, Liam B. Quinn, and Sean P. O'Neal,Attorney Docket No. DC-101872.01, filed on same day herewith, describesexemplary methods and systems and is incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of informationhandling system docking, and more particularly to information handlingsystem docking with coordinated power and data communications.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information between and across devices continuesto increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to processand store information. One option available to users is informationhandling systems. An information handling system generally processes,compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business,personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage ofthe value of the information. Because technology and informationhandling needs and requirements vary between different users orapplications, information handling systems may also vary regarding whatinformation is handled, how the information is handled, how muchinformation is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly andefficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated.The variations in information handling systems allow for informationhandling systems to be general or configured for a specific user orspecific use such as financial transaction processing, airlinereservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. Inaddition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardwareand software components that may be configured to process, store, andcommunicate information and may include one or more computer systems,data storage systems, and networking systems.

Information handling systems perform a large number of functions forboth individuals and for business use. Generally, information handlingsystems perform these functions by executing applications stored inlocal memory that create or alter information stored locally and atnetworked locations. As an example, enterprises typically have a datacenter that includes centralized storage of information and one or moreserver information handling systems that provide the information toclient information handling systems through a network. In a conventionaloffice environment, employees have work areas with a dedicated desktopinformation handling system that executes word processing, spreadsheet,web browsing and e-mail applications and connectivity to peripheraldevices and platforms, that also may generate or consume data, so thatemployees can perform enterprise duties. Generally, each work area has adedicated local area network Ethernet interface to provide the desktopinformation handling system with communication to the data center. Inaddition, each area includes dedicated and/or shared peripherals, suchas a display, keyboard, mouse and shared networked printer. Often homeoffice environments have a similar configuration built around a routeror modem that provides Internet access and peripheral sharing instead ofaround a data center and server information handling system.

This conventional work area configuration makes sense for employees whowork only in the work area during working hours, however, a growingnumber of employees work in less-conventional arrangements. Forinstance, many enterprises have adopted home office policies that allowemployees to work from home on certain days or under certaincircumstances. Generally, such employees are provided with a portableinformation handling system to perform enterprise duties. As the expenseassociated with such portable systems has decreased over time,enterprises have made portable systems available to a greater number ofemployees so that employees have the improved productivity generallyprovided by improved access to enterprise information. In addition,employees have generally taken advantage of the decreased cost ofportable information handling systems by purchasing systems for personaluse. One common example of portable information handling systems oftenpurchased for personal use by employees is the smartphone, which allowsemployees to make phone calls, communicate by text and e-mail, andbrowse the Internet through personal wireless wide area network (WWAN)telephone accounts or Internet hotspots.

Although portable information handling systems provide end users withincreased convenience in the accessing of information outside of a workspace, portable information handling systems tend to have lessconvenient input/output interfaces. For example, portable informationhandling systems tend to have smaller displays than are provided by adesktop system display peripheral and integrated keyboards with smallerand/or less ergonomic key configurations. In the case of tabletinformation handling systems, such as smartphones, the integratedkeyboard is typically a virtual keyboard presented on a touchscreen,which generally does not provide an efficient interface for end users tomake inputs. Often, end users will interface with smartphones and othertablet information handling systems by using peripheral devices, such aswireless keyboards and mice; however, the convenience of using aportable information handling system is diminished where an end user hasto carry around peripheral devices and set up the portable system tointeract with the peripheral devices.

One conventional solution that helps make portable information handlingsystems more effective tools in a work space is a docking station thatinterfaces the portable information handling system with the work spaceresources. Conventional docking stations typically include a specializedconnector that couples to a portable information handling system toprovide direct system access for peripherals connected with the dockingstation. For example, a docking station with a specialized connector isplaced in a work space on a desktop and then interfaced with work spaceperipherals. The docking station might, for instance, include: aDisplayPort port that couples the dock through a DisplayPort cable to aconventional display; USB ports that couple the dock through USB cablesto a keyboard, mouse and printer; an Ethernet port that couples the dockto a local area network (LAN); and a power cable that accepts AC powerand an adapter that converts the AC power to DC power. A portableinformation handling system has a specialized port in its bottom surfacethat accepts the docking station connector in a fixed position on thedesktop. The specialized port interfaces at a motherboard level withcomponents of the portable information handling system so that an enduser, in effect, couples separately to each of the peripherals throughone docking station connector as if the end user had directly interfacedeach peripheral to a port of the portable information handling system.

The advantage offered by a conventional docking station is that an enduser can effectively turn a portable information handling system withlimited I/O capabilities into a desktop system with multiple peripheralsby simply placing the portable system into the docking station. Adisadvantage of conventional docking stations is that the addition of aspecialized docking port and direct motherboard connections increasesthe design and fabrication costs for the portable information handlingsystem as well as the size of the portable system. It also limits thetype of client device that connects/docks with the docking platform. Onealternative is to interface a docking station with a standardized portof the information handling system, such as a USB port. A disadvantageof this type of docking station interface is that peripheral informationcan exceed the bandwidth available through the standardized port.Further, using the peripheral port protocol to communicate with thedocking station tends to introduce latency due to translation betweennative and port protocols. Some of the bandwidth limitations areaddressed by using wireless interfaces for some peripherals, such asBluetooth to interface a portable system with a keyboard; however, usingmultiple interfaces tends to defeat the simplicity associated with adocking station having a single interface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which extends aunified interface consisting of power and IO interfaces to an externaldocking station.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method areprovided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous methods and systems for interfacing aninformation handling system to a docking station in a work space. Adocking cable connects a docking station to an information handlingsystem with an initial configuration determined by a temporary setup ofa docking port data lane as a management bus. After docking isconfigured, wired and wireless communication resources of the dockingstation, the information handling system and peripherals are dynamicallymanaged to provide balanced video, data and power communication basedupon communication tasks and processing tasks associated with thedocking station.

More specifically, a docking station includes one or more docking portsto support cabled interfaces with one or more information handlingsystems, one or more peripheral ports to support cabled communicationwith one or more peripherals, and wireless resources to support wirelesscommunication of information between the information handling systemsand peripherals. A docking manager on the docking station and theinformation handling system at initial detection of a cable connectionrespond by temporarily establishing a management bus through a dockingport data lane to exchange configuration information. Afterconfiguration of the docking station and information handling systemaccording to the configuration information, the management interface istorn down and the data lane is used to communicate information, such aswith a DisplayPort or USB protocol communication. Wired data lanes andwireless resources are dynamically assigned communication tasks toadjust to changing operations at the work space. For example, data lanestransfer video having heavy bandwidth demands but are re-assigned totransfer power when video bandwidth demands are relaxed. Wirelessresources are assigned communication tasks to provide reduced demand onwired data lanes. A balance is maintained for communication and powertransfer by re-assigning tasks dynamically as work load at the workspaces changes.

The present invention provides a number of important technicaladvantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that asmaller sized docking port adapts to power and communication tasks bymultiplexing tasks to data lanes in a dynamic manner. Initialconfiguration is driven from an embedded controller or other firmware ofan information handling system with a temporary management bus set upand tear down. Data lanes selectively provide DisplayPort or USBformatted information based upon the bandwidth requirements of tasksperformed at the information handling system and the need for additionalpower transfer. By adapting data lanes to various tasks, the footprintof the information handling system is reduced since direct motherboardconnections are not needed to support docking station operations.Further, the docking port adjusts to non-docking tasks by acceptingrelated cables, such as DisplayPort or USB cables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

FIG. 1 depicts a portable information handling systems interfaced with adocking station and associated peripherals in a work space; and

FIG. 2 depicts a circuit block diagram of an information handling systemthat temporarily configures a management bus at a docking port interfaceto control configuration of docking station assets;

FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram of a process for temporary configurationof a docking port data lane as a management bus interface;

FIG. 4 depicts a low Z-factor docking port compared with availableperipheral ports;

FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram of a system for allocation of wirelessand wired communication media by a docking station between one or moreinformation handling systems and peripherals;

FIG. 6 depicts a flow diagram depicts a process for assigningcommunication media based upon processing tasks associated with adocking station;

FIG. 7 depicts a circuit block diagram of a system for selectiveassignment of docking port data lanes for transferring power from adocking station to an information handling system; and

FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram of a process for selective assignment ofdocking port data lanes for transferring power from a docking station toan information handling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Docking station wireless and wired resources are dynamically allocatedto accomplish communication and processing tasks of an informationhandling system. For purposes of this disclosure, an informationhandling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate ofinstrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit,receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect,record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information,intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or otherpurposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personalcomputer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and mayvary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. Theinformation handling system may include random access memory (RAM), oneor more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) orhardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types ofnonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handlingsystem may include one or more disk drives, one or more network portsfor communicating with external devices as well as various input andoutput (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display.The information handling system may also include one or more busesoperable to transmit communications between the various hardwarecomponents.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a portable information handling system 10interfaces with a docking station 12 and associated peripherals in awork space 14. In the example embodiment, information handling system 10is a portable information handling system having a rotationally-coupleddisplay 16 and a keyboard 18 integrated with a portable housing 20, suchas a conventional laptop with a clamshell configuration. In alternativeembodiments, other types of portable information handling systems mayinterface with docking station 12, such as a mobile telephone 22 orsimilar tablet information handling system. In the example embodiment,portable information handling system 12 interfaces with a docking cable24 that couples to a port of docking station 12 and portable informationhandling system 10. In alternative embodiments, portable informationhandling system 10 couples directly to docking station 12, such as byaligning an integrated docking port of portable information handling 10over a docking port of docking station 12.

Docking station 12 provides an end user with a ready conversion at awork space 14 of portable information handling system 10 into adesktop-type of fixed configuration that interfaces with pluralperipheral devices. For example, docking station 12 supportscommunication between information handling system 10 and a peripheralkeyboard 26, a peripheral mouse 28, plural peripheral displays 30,peripheral speakers 32, a peripheral printer 34 and a peripheraltelephone 36, such as a VoIP desktop telephone. Docking station 12interfaces with the peripherals through cables that couple eachperipheral to a peripheral port of docking station 12 or, alternatively,through wireless communication by wireless resources through a WLAN/WPANantenna 38. Information handling system 10 communicates through dockingcable 24 with docking station 12 to receive peripheral inputs andpresent outputs at the peripherals coupled to docking station 12.Docking station 12 provides a single connection point through whichinformation handling system 10 interacts with the plural peripherals. Inaddition, docking station 12 provides infrastructure support to portableinformation handling system 10 for power and networking functions. Forexample, an Ethernet local area network (LAN) interface 40 providesnetwork communications to docking station 12 to route and/or switch toportable information handling system 10. As another example, an externalAC power connector 42 of docking station 12 accepts power from an ACsupply and converts the power to a DC supply for transfer to informationhandling system 10 through docking cable 24.

In operation, docking station 12 supports operations of informationhandling system 10 through a single docking cable 24 by multiplexinginformation through plural data lanes of docking cable 24. For example,docking cable 24 combines a DisplayPort interface, with four data lanes,an auxiliary lane and a power interface, and a USB 2.0 interface, withtwo data lanes, to communicate visual and other peripheral information.Docking station 12 configures the data lanes and available wirelessresources so that portable information handling system 10 operates in anefficient and effective manner. Upon an initial connection of dockingcable 24 to portable information handling system 10, a docking manageron each of docking station 12 and information handling system 10 providean initial configuration by temporarily establishing a data lane as amanagement bus, such as an I2C or SMBus. The management bus exchangesinformation regarding capabilities of portable information handlingsystem 10 and docking station 12 to establish an initial configurationof communication and infrastructure resources. For example, dockingstation 12 provides a default configuration unless an embeddedcontroller within information handling system 10 provides a differentconfiguration through the management bus. After both informationhandling system 10 and docking station 12 have the initial configurationas communicated through the management bus, the management bus isremoved and the data lanes are established according to the initialconfiguration. In the example embodiment, some examples of initialconfigurations include: four data lanes for DisplayPort and two datalanes for USB 2.0; two data lanes for DisplayPort and four data lanesfor USB 3.0; and two data lanes for a first DisplayPort interface, twodata lanes for a second DisplayPort interface, and two data lanes for aUSB 2.0 interface. In alternative embodiments, additional data lanes maybe included to support additional configurations.

Once a configuration is established between docking station 12 andinformation handling system 10, the docking managers of docking station12 and information handling system 10 coordinate assignments of datalanes and wireless resources to meet processing needs and goals of anend user of information handling system 10. For example, in oneembodiment docking station 12 assigns wireless resources of informationhandling system 10 to establish networked communications directly withperipherals to accomplish processing tasks. For instance, if an end userhas a movie processed at information handling system 10 and presented atone display peripheral 30 and a spreadsheet processed at informationhandling system 10 and presented at a second display peripheral 30, thendocking managers at docking station 12 and information handling system10 cooperate to assign up to four data lanes of docking cable 24 tocommunicate the movie in high resolution and assign a wireless personalarea network (WPAN), such as an 802.11 (ad) channel, to communicate thespreadsheet. In such an example, the refresh rate of different imagespresented at peripheral displays 30 is compared to assign the mediumwith the greatest available bandwidth to the image information havingthe greatest bandwidth consumption. However, the docking managers adjustto conditions present in work space 14 to alter the allocation ofdocking port cable 24 and wireless resource communication media asneeded to compensate for other processing tasks. For instance, in theabove example, two data lanes may be needed from docking cable 24 toprovide network access or power so that the best image resolutionresults from communicating the movie images wirelessly and communicatingthe spreadsheet images through two data lanes of docking cable 24. Othertypes of peripheral information and infrastructure support may beconsidered by the docking managers as set forth in the exampleembodiments set forth below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a circuit block diagram depicts an informationhandling system 10 that temporarily configures a management bus at adocking port 44 interface to control configuration of docking stationassets. Information handling system 10 interfaces with docking station12 through a docking cable 24 that couples to a docking port 44 at eachof information handling system 10 and docking station 12. In the exampleembodiment, a DockPort docking station interface establishes dockingstation functionality under the management of a docking manager 46,provided by instructions executing on a DockPort integrated circuit.Docking manager 46 multiplexes information from plural different sources48 to communicate the information through docking data lanes 50. Forexample, inputs to docking manager 46 include uncompressed visualinformation sent through a DisplayPort interface 52 and other types ofdata sent through USB 2.0 and 3.0 interfaces 54 and 56. In addition,power is provided from a power block 58 through a power interface atdocking port 44. Docking manager 46 on each of docking station 12 andinformation handling system 10 coordinate tasks for the docking datalanes and then multiplex information across the docking data lanes 50.For example, four lanes of input from a DisplayPort interface 52 islimited to two lanes across docking data lanes 50 to provide additionaldocking data lanes 50 for communicating information with a USB 3.0protocol. Alternatively, a high resolution display presentation issupported by assigning four docking data lanes 50 to communicateDisplayPort information while limiting USB protocol communications toUSB 2.0.

Docking managers 46 at information handling system 10 and dockingstation 12 coordinate the use of docking data lanes 50 by communicatingconfiguration information through the docking data lanes 50. Onedifficulty with communication of configuration information throughdocking data lanes 50 is that the lanes have to establish an initialconfiguration in order to communicate configuration information thatestablishes an end user's docking station according to the end user'spreferences. In order to provide a more rapid initial docking stationconfiguration based upon preferences stored in memory of informationhandling system 10, docking manager 46 establishes a temporarymanagement bus interface at an initial connection with docking station12 and uses the management bus interface to establish an initial dockingstation configuration. In the example embodiment, an embedded controller60, such as a keyboard controller in a portable information handlingsystem, executes firmware instructions, such as BIOS instructions, tocoordinate with docking manager 46 for establishing an initial dockingstation configuration according to a docking station configuration table62 stored in flash memory 64. In alternative embodiments, alternativehardware, software or firmware devices may coordinate the establishmentof an initial docking station configuration through the management businterface. For instance, docking manager 46 may include instructionsdistributed through firmware or software of various components disposedin information handling system 10 and docking station 12.

As an example, when cable 24 couples to the docking port 44 of bothinformation handling system 10 and docking station 12, a ground detectat each docking manager 46 initiates a temporary configuration of a datalane 50 as an I2C or SMBus. Once the management bus is established,instructions on embedded controller 60 of information handling system 10obtain an identifier of docking station 12 and lookup the identifier indocking station configuration table 62. If a docking stationconfiguration associated with the identifier is stored in flash memory64, embedded controller 60 provides the docking station configurationthrough the management bus 66 to docking manager 46, which multiplexesthe docking station configuration through the temporary management businterface, docking ports 44 and to a docking manager 46 and embeddedcontroller 60 at docking station 12. Once both docking managers 46 havethe initial docking station configuration, each docking manager 46applies the docking station configuration to configure each of thedocking data lanes 50 with an appropriate protocol, such as aDisplayPort and/or USB protocol. During the configuration of data lanes50, the temporary management interface is torn down so that the datalane 50 used to support the management interface may instead be used forcommunication of visual or other data. Allowing the embedded controller60 of information handling system 10 to have I2C control provides theinformation handling system with flexibility in how configuration ofdocking station 12 is effectuated by passing I2C bus data throughdocking ports 44 during configuration. After initial configuration hastaken place, additional temporary use of a data lane 50 as a managementbus may be used to enforce configuration settings from informationhandling system 10, such as if an operating system hang-up occurs or ifmanagement bus control is desirable for other reasons.

In addition to establishing an initial configuration of data lanes 50,docking station configuration table 62 establishes an initialconfiguration for other docking station assets, such as wirelesscommunication resources 68 and additional power capacity 70. Dockingstation 12 assets' initial configurations may be set by values stored intable 62 or by applying rules and/or values stored in table 62. Forexample, an end user can save settings for data lanes 50 that use twolanes for DisplayPort visual information and four lanes for USBinformation. In addition, the end user's settings can include aBluetooth interface for a wireless keyboard and mouse associated withdocking station 12 and an 802.11(ad) interface for a display associatedwith docking station 12, and an 802.11(n) interface for WLAN access. Insuch an example, information handling system 10 adapts to the assets ofdocking station 12 in a manner previously set-up and saved by an enduser. However, assets at docking station 12 may change over time so thatrules applied by docking managers 46 can further enhance an initialdocking station configuration. If, for instance, a wireless display isunavailable at docking station 12, rules stored in table 62 may alterthe initial configuration based upon communications from docking station12 that indicate only wired displays are available. One example ruleapplied at embedded controller 60 of information handling system 10might alter the initial assignment of data lanes 50 to communicate twosets of visual information through two pairs of DisplayPort lanes.Another example rule assigns data lanes 50 and wireless resourcesbetween two displays by order of refresh rate with the following orderedlist of paired configurations: four lanes of DisplayPort and 802.11(ad); 802.11 (ad) and two lanes of DisplayPort; and two lanes ofDisplayPort and four lanes of USB 3.0 with compressed video.

In one alternative embodiment, if a wireless interface is establishedbetween docking station 12 wireless resources 68 and informationhandling system 10 before cable 24 is coupled to ports 44, the initialdocking station configuration may be established based upon wirelesscommunications so that the setup of a management interface can bebypassed. For example, information handling system 10 interfaces with aWLAN and looks up the WLAN identifier in docking station configurationtable 62 to determine if the WLAN is associated with a store dockingstation 12. If so, information handling system 10 attempts to interfacewith the docking station 12 through the WLAN or through a WPANinterface, such as Bluetooth, to exchange configuration information. Asanother example, a near field communication (NFC) between theinformation handling system 10 and docking station 12 may provideconfiguration information between information handling system 10 anddocking station 12. If configuration information is successfullyexchanged, the use of a temporary management bus interface may beavoided or shortened to just a confirmation that the configured dockingstation 12 couples by cable 24 to information handling system 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram depicts a process for temporaryconfiguration of a docking port data lane as a management bus interface.The process begins at step 72 with monitoring of a docking port todetect an initial interface with a docking station. At step 74, adetermination is made of whether a docking port is associated with anywireless networks detected by the information handling system wirelessresources, such as a WLAN of a work space 14 or a WPAN of wirelessresources of a docking station. If a wireless network is detected, theprocess continues to step 80 to initiate a docking station configurationas set forth below. If a wireless network is not detected, the processcontinues to step 76 to determine if a physical connection is made to adocking port of the information handling system. If neither a wirelessor physical interface is established at step 76, the process returns tostep 72 to continue monitoring for a docking port connection.

If at step 76 a docking port connection is detected by the informationhandling system, the process continues to step 78 to configure one ormore data lanes of the docking port as a management interface.Configuration of a management bus at a data lane occurs at both theinformation handling system and docking station upon an initialdetection of a connection so that the information handling systemcommunicates at a firmware level, such as with its BIOS, to the dockingstation. At step 80, a docking station configuration is established atthe information handling system and docking station based uponcommunications made through the management bus interface, or a wirelessinterface if one exists. Establishing a management bus interface allowsdirect communication of an information handling system embeddedcontroller with an embedded controller of the docking station so thatoperating system involvement is not needed to initiate use of dockingstation assets. Providing control to the information handling systemembedded controller for configuration of a docking station allows rapidset up of stored or default configurations that may depend upon ananalysis of available docking station assets that is performed at theinformation handling system. At step 82, the docking stationconfiguration is applied to set the data lanes of the docking port tothe stored configuration. Setting the data lanes to the storedconfiguration tears down the management bus interface so that the datalane used to establish the management bus is used for host operatingsystem level communications. At step 84, the wireless resources of theinformation handling system and docking station are then set accordingto the stored docking station configuration and, at step 86 the processends.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a low Z-factor docking port 94 is compared withavailable peripheral ports. The height, known as Z-factor, of a porteffects the size of the housing that includes the port. The dimensionsof a DisplayPort port 88, Mini DisplayPort port 90 and USB 3.0 port arecompared with the dimensions of one example embodiment of a docking port94 that supports docking with a docking station as described above.Efficient use of data lanes in the docking port 94 provides bandwidthfor both uncompressed video information and USB data. For instance, fourlanes of uncompressed video available from a DisplayPort port 88 aremultiplexed with two additional lanes to selectively provide MiniDisplayPort functionality with two lanes and USB 2.0 with two lanes orUSB 3.0 with four lanes. An auxiliary lane found in DisplayPort issupported with USB configurations and power transfer found in USB issupported with power transfer found in DisplayPort; hence the totalnumber of lanes is decreased by combining functionalities withmultiplexed communications. Temporary management bus interfaces asdescribed above allow direct control from an information handling systemembedded controller to the docking station through port 94 as needed. Inaddition, as set forth below, selective engagement of a power interfaceenhances power available through port 94 above that available fromDisplayPort by including a USB power interface.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram depicts a system for allocationof wireless and wired communication media by a docking station 12between one or more information handling systems 10, 22 and 98, andplural peripherals. Information handling system 10 interfaces withdocking station 12 through a docking cable 24 that connects betweendocking ports 44 as described above. A docking manager 46 on informationhandling system 10 and docking station 12 coordinates with a virtualwireless access point 100 executing on processing resources of dockingstation 12 to assign data lanes of docking port 44 and wirelesscommunication channels to tasks that provide for efficient use ofperipherals disposed in the work space 14. Virtual wireless access point100 dynamically aggregates wireless technologies associated with adocking station 12, such as WiGig, WiFi, Bluetooth, WPAN, WLAN, etc. . .. , so that peripherals communicate with information handling systemsand docking station 12 to make available bandwidths additive to wiredbandwidth of docking cable 24. As an example, WiGig WPAN resourcessupport wireless display presentation while WiFi resources supportsother data, such as an Internet interface. As a further extension,wireless resources for video and data and assigned to tasks based uponthe interfaces that devices have with wired resources, such as PCIE,DisplayPort and USB buses, so that devices supported by wired resourcesdo not consume wireless bandwidth. In addition to effective sharing ofwireless and wired connectivity, docking managers 46 and virtualwireless access point 100 coordinate to share peripheral resourcesbetween work space peripherals. For instance, clamshell, tablet andsmartphone information handling systems share display space on a display30 with a portion of the display space assigned to each informationhandling system. For example, a DisplayPort multiplexor 102 executing ondocking station 12, such as a timing controller that selectively acceptsmultiple display input signals, overlays a smartphone informationhandling system 22 display presentation 104 received by a compressedWiFi signal and a tablet information handling system 98 displaypresentation 106 received by WiGig 802.11(ad) signal on top of aDisplayPort cable signal received through docking cable 24, and presentsthe combined displays at display peripheral 30. An end user can drop anddrag tablet display 106 with a mouse 108 or keyboard 110, whichinterface by Bluetooth to tablet information handling system 98 and thenby WiFi to docking station 12 for control at DisplayPort multiplexor102.

In the example embodiment depicted by FIG. 5, docking station 12 andinformation handling system 10 are equipped with wireless resources thatcommunicate with a plurality of protocols at plurality of frequencybands, with the frequency bands having a plurality of communicationchannels. One general category of wireless resources is wireless localarea network (WLAN) resources 112 that communicate data at distances ofapproximately 100M in the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. WLAN resources112 typically provide an alternative to wired Ethernet communicationprovided by a local area network (LAN) resource 118. Some examples ofWLAN resources include 802.11 (b, g, n and ac) compatible transceivers.Another general category of wireless resources is wireless personal areanetwork (WPAN) resources 114 that communicate over shorter distances,such as 10M, in higher frequency ranges between 2.4 and 60 GHz as areplacement for wired connections with peripheral devices. Some examplesof WPAN resources include Bluetooth and 802.11(ad). In one exampleembodiment WLAN and WPAN resources are provided with a WiGig or otherproposed standard interface. Near field communication (NFC) resources116 use low energy radio transmissions for short range communications ofdata. Wireless resources 68 of docking station 12 and informationhandling system 10 interface with each other and with peripheral devicesas supported by the peripherals. In various embodiments wirelessresources on docking station 12 and information handling system 10 havesimilar or different capabilities, which are tracked by virtual wirelessaccess point 100. For instance, at an initial configuration of aninformation handling system 10 with a docking station 12, wirelesscapabilities of each are shared with each other and stored locally. Inone example embodiment, virtual wireless access point 100 is adistributed application that executes at least in part on informationhandling system 10 so that assignments of wireless resources and wiredresources of docking station 12 are managed at information handlingsystem 10.

The operability of virtual wireless access point 100 is set forth belowas examples of management of wired and wireless resources assignmentsbased upon tasks associated with work space 14. The examples are notmeant to limit the functionality but may be combined in variousembodiments depending upon work space 14 work load and communicationresources. In the example embodiments, virtual wireless access point 100cooperates with docking managers 46 to coordinate assignments of tasksto wireless and/or wired communication media based upon the bandwidthconsumed by tasks and user-selectable priorities of tasks.

One example of a task that is selectively assigned to plural wired andwireless communication media is the presentation of visual images atperipheral displays 30 from information processed at plural informationhandling systems 10, 22 and 98. Visual images with high refresh rates,such as a movie or game, tend to consume larger amounts of bandwidth andto have degraded presentation when bandwidth is not available. Incontrast, visual images with low refresh rates, such as word processingdocuments or spreadsheets, tend to consume less bandwidth and, indeed,might refresh from memory of display 30 alone when not actively in useso that bandwidth consumption is effectively zero at times. Other tasks,such as viewing still picture images, have spikes of bandwidth use whennew display presentations are loaded to a display 30. In one exampleembodiment, virtual wireless access point 100 assigns a moviepresentation processed by information handling system 10 for display ata display peripheral 30 to a communication medium of four DisplayPortlanes defined in docking cable 24 to docking station 12 and then throughfour lanes of a DisplayPort cable 120 to the display 30. If four lanesof docking cable 24 are not available, virtual wireless access point 100establishes a 60 GHz communication channel from information handlingsystem 10 to docking station 12 to communicate the visual imageswirelessly and then uses DisplayPort cable 120 to communicate visualinformation from docking station 12 to display 30. Alternatively, if the60 GHz communication band has minimal use so that interference is notsignificant, virtual wireless access point 100 coordinates throughdocking managers 46 to establish a direct wireless communication betweeninformation handling system 10 to the display 30.

In addition to management of DisplayPort cable and 60 GHz wirelesscommunication media for presenting visual images, virtual wirelessaccess point 100 manages WLAN and USB protocol communications forpresenting visual images. For example, if two data lanes of dockingcable 24 are assigned for visual information and the remaining lanes areassigned to USB and/or power transfer, virtual wireless access point 100selectively assigns display tasks to the data lanes having visualinformation as a refresh rate for a task increases, thus allowinguncompressed visual information to have rapid communication rates, whileassigning display tasks having low refresh rates to communication ascompressed visual information through a USB data lane. Thus, forinstance, a user who is viewing pictures will have high bandwidthDisplayPort lanes available on docking cable 24 so that pictures arerapidly loaded and lower bandwidth USB lanes between loading of pictureswhen bandwidth is not needed. Similarly, if adequate bandwidth isavailable in a WLAN channel, virtual wireless access point 100coordinates wireless transfer of compressed visual information throughits own 802.11 wireless resources or through a wireless access point122. In evaluating the communication media to assign for a particulartask, virtual wireless access point 100 evaluates available bandwidthand the risk of interference with other networking tasks to assign achannel within a communication band for performing a task. Virtualwireless access point weighs the priority of tasks to determine whichtasks should receive wireless bandwidth based in part on the amount ofwired bandwidth that is available and the time sensitivity of aparticular task. In various embodiments, some peripherals may lack aphysical cable connection to a docking station peripheral port so thatwireless communication with that peripheral will have a higher priority.

Another example of a task that is selectively assigned to plural wiredand wireless communication media is the transfer of data betweeninformation handling systems, such as files. For instance, an end userwho wishes to transfer information from information handling system 10to tablet information handling system 98 has the transfer automaticallycoordinated by virtual wireless access point 100. Information handlingsystem 10 sends a file through docking cable 24 USB data lanes fortransfer to tablet information handling system 98 by a wirelesscommunication determined by virtual wireless access point 100 based uponavailable wireless bandwidth, such as in the 2.4, 5 and 60 GHz bands,and the quality of wireless communication with tablet informationhandling system 98. In one embodiment, virtual wireless access point 100establishes a direct peer-to-peer communication between informationhandling system 10 and tablet 98 to effectuate a file transfer, such aswith an ad hoc WLAN in a communication channel assigned by virtualwireless access point 100. Peer-to-peer communication may be assigned byvirtual wireless access point 100 in other types of circumstances and inother communication bands. As some examples, virtual wireless accesspoint 100 coordinates a wireless transfer of video 104 from mobiletelephone 22 in a selected of manners: peer-to-peer with informationhandling system 10, through docking cable 24 and DisplayPort cable 120;wirelessly from mobile telephone 22 to docking station 12 then throughDisplayPort cable 120; or wirelessly directly to display 30 with anoverlay performed by a timing controller of display 30 in a locationdetermined by docking station 12. Other types of devices that may havesimilar selective communication through wired and wireless resourcesinclude keyboard devices 110, mouse devices 108, and printers 124.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flow diagram depicts a process for assigningcommunication media based upon processing tasks associated with adocking station. The process starts at step 126 with an inventory orcommunication media available at the docking station, such as wired datalanes and wireless communication bands. The inventory includes, forinstance, the number of docking port data lanes available for datatransfer, the wireless resources of the information handling systems anddocking station and the wired and wireless resources of docking stationperipherals. At step 128, the process continues with an inventory ofcommunication tasks associated with a docking station. Communicationtasks are, for instance, based upon processing tasks performed atinformation handling systems interfaced with the docking station andinclude a rating for each tasks bandwidth consumption and need fortimely response. For example, a movie has high bandwidth consumptionwith high timeliness while a spreadsheet has low bandwidth consumptionand low timeliness. Ratings for relative importance of each processingtask may be input by an end user. At step 130, communication tasks areassigned to wired and wireless communication media based upon theirrelative importance, their bandwidth consumption, their need fortimeliness, and the available communication media. At step 132 adetermination is made of whether a change in tasks has occurred. Achange in tasks might occur if a new task is added or an existing taskis deleted, or may occur if an existing task changes an operatingconstraint, such as with a change in an image depicted to an end user.If a change in tasks is detected, the process returns to step 128 toinventory tasks. If no change in tasks is detected, the processcontinues to step 134 to determine if a change in communication mediahas occurred. A change in communication media might occur if data lanesof a docking station port are assigned to power use as describe below,or if bandwidth consumption of a task or a near-by docking stationchanges, such as might increase frequency congestion and interference sothat wireless transfer rates are impacted. If a change in communicationmedia occurs, the process returns to step 126 to inventory communicationmedia. If not, the process returns to step 130 to monitor the assigningof tasks based upon the current inventory of tasks and communicationmedia.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a circuit block diagram depicts a system forselective assignment of docking port 44 data lanes 50 for transferringpower from a docking station 12 to an information handling system 10.Docking manager 46 multiplexes DisplayPort, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 inputsinto shared data lanes 50 so that data lanes 50 can maintaincommunication with a DisplayPort or USB protocol. Power block 58 managesdistribution of power from docking station 12 to information handlingsystem 10 using the 65W power transfer defined by the DisplayPortstandard. In addition, power block 58 selectively assigns one or more ofdata lanes 50 to provide additional power based upon the USB 3.0standard if additional power is needed by information handling system10. For example, power block 58 at information handling system 10 anddocking station 12 cooperate to engage a power switching logic 136 sothat power proceeds through data lanes 50 that otherwise selectivelysupport DisplayPort lanes 2 and 3 or USB 3.0 lanes. For instance, powertransferred over data lanes 50 can provide an additional 65W with 19.5Vas the power is needed at information handling system 10, such as duringbattery charge or heavy processing tasks. In one embodiment, additionalpower is provided by adapting a single data lane 50 for power transferaccording to USB 3.0 standards definitions and sharing a ground linewith power transfer supported by the DisplayPort standards. In analternative embodiment, a shared power ground allows multiple data lanesto provide power with multiple USB 3.0 power transfers over each datalane.

Power block 58 dynamically coordinates with docking manager 46 andvirtual wireless access point 100 to assign data lanes 50 to powertransfer as communication tasks and power consumption changes over time.For example, if communication through docking port 44 is relativelyslight, power block 58 may assign a data lane 50 for power transfer toobtain more rapid battery charge. If communication increases, such as aspike associated with presenting pictures at a display, power block 58releases the data lane 50 for communication of display information andaccepts a slower battery charge. Similarly, if network communicationincreases, such as due to a download of a file, power block 58 releasesthe data lane 50 for network communication with USB. As another example,if a processing-intensive spreadsheet increases CPU power consumptionwhile demanding relatively little communication bandwidth, power block58 assigns a data lane 50 for power transfer to prevent throttling ofthe CPU. Power block 58 might, in another example, assign a data lane 50for power transfer if adequate wireless communication is available tocommunicate information associated with the data lane by assigningcommunication to the wireless resource. Dynamic allocation of a datalane 50 to power transfer might also be used as needed to provide powerfrom an information handling system to an external device, such as forcharging a mobile telephone. Logic for determining when to assign a datalane 50 to power transfer may reside on just information handling system10, just docking station 12, or be distributed between informationhandling system 10 and docking station 12.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a flow diagram depicts a process for selectiveassignment of docking port data lanes for transferring power from adocking station to an information handling system. The process starts atstep 138 with detection of a docking station cable coupled aninformation handling system. At step 140, power transfer is establishedat up to 65W according to the DisplayPort standard. At step 142, aninventory is performed of communication media to determine mediaavailable for transfer of information, including wired and wirelessmedia of the docking station, information handling systems associatedwith the docking station and peripherals associated with the dockingstation. At step 144, an inventory is performed of communication tasksassociated with the communication media, such as transfer of video andnetwork data. At step 146, a determination is made of whether toestablish power through a data lane with the USB protocol based upon acomparison of the need for the power and the need for the use of thedata lane to transfer data. If additional power is needed and/or theimpact on communication is acceptable, the process continues to step 148to configure a data lane for power transfer and returns to step 144 tocontinue monitoring communication tasks. If at step 146, additionalpower transfer has an undue impact on communication of information, theprocess continues to step 150 to inventory processing demand versuspower demand. At step 152, a determination is made of whether powerneeds at the information handling system take precedence overcommunication needs. If so, communication over a data lane is assignedto a different communication media and the process continues to step 148to configure additional power transfer through a data lane. If not atstep 152, the process returns to step 144 to continue monitoringcommunication tasks.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling system comprising: ahousing; a processor disposed in the housing, the processor operable toexecute instructions for processing information; memory disposed in thehousing, the memory interfaced with the processor and operable to storethe instructions and information; a docking manager disposed in thehousing, the docking manager operable to manage interactions with anexternal docking station through a docking port; a docking port disposedin the housing and having plural data lanes, the docking manageroperable to adapt the data lines to selected of plural protocols; andwireless networking resources disposed in the housing and operable tosupport wireless networking interfaces through one or more wirelessprotocols; wherein the docking manager is further operable to coordinateassignment of the wireless networking resources to networking tasks incooperation with the external docking station.
 2. The informationhandling system of claim 1 further comprising: a docking stationseparate from the housing, the docking station having a docking managerand a docking port with plural data lanes, and having wirelessnetworking resources; a docking cable operable to connect to the dockingstation docking port and the housing docking port; and a virtualwireless access point disposed in the docking station and operable tocommunicate with the information handling system docking manager toassign wireless networking resources of the docking station to tasksassociated with the information handling system.
 3. The informationhandling system of claim 2 further comprising: plural peripheral devicesmanaged by the docking station, at least some of the plural peripheraldevices interfaced with the docking station by cables and at least somethe plural peripheral devices interfaced with the docking station bywireless networking resources; wherein the virtual wireless access pointis further operable to selectively assign at least one of the pluralperipheral devices to communicate directly with the information handlingsystem wireless networking resources or the docking station wirelessnetworking resources.
 4. The information handling system of claim 2further comprising: plural peripheral devices managed by the dockingstation, at least some of the plural peripheral devices interfaced withthe docking station by cables and at least some the plural peripheraldevices interfaced with the docking station by wireless networkingresources; wherein the virtual wireless access point is further operableto selectively assign a first of the plural peripheral devices tocommunicate directly with the information handling system wirelessnetworking resources and a second of the plural peripheral devices tocommunicate with the information handling system through a cableconnecting the information handling system with the docking station. 5.The information handling system of claim 4 wherein: the first peripheraldevice comprises a display having a wireless personal area networkinterface directly with the information handling system; and the secondperipheral device comprises a display having a serial cable interfacewith the docking station.
 6. The information handling system of claim 4wherein the first and second peripheral devices comprise first andsecond displays, each of the first and second displays having a wirelesspersonal area network interface and a serial cable interface to thedocking station, the virtual wireless access point selectively assigningthe first and second displays to communicate with the informationhandling system through the wireless personal area network interface orserial cable interface based at least upon the refresh rate of imagepresented at the first and second displays from the information handlingsystem.
 7. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein thewireless networking resources support communication through pluralwireless protocols having plural wireless channels, the virtual wirelessaccess point further operable to assign wireless channels to the dockingstation wireless networking resources, the information handling systemwireless networking resources and the peripherals managed by the dockingstation.
 8. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein thewireless networking resources comprise 802.1 lad resources.
 9. A methodfor interfacing an information handling system with a docking station,the method comprising: detecting a cable connection between the dockingstation and the information handling system; configuring one or moredata lanes of the cable connection to communicate peripheral informationbetween the docking station and the information handling system; andselectively communicating between the information handling system andplural peripherals through the cable and through wireless networkingresources based upon assignments of wireless networking resources madeby the docking station.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein selectivelycommunicating further comprises: communicating visual information fromthe information handling system to a first display through the cable andthe docking station for presentation at the first display; andcommunicating visual information from the information handling system toa second display directly through a wireless interface between theinformation handling system and the second display.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 wherein selectively communicating further comprises:determining an image refresh rate for images presented at the first andsecond displays; and assigning the first display to cable-basedcommunication with the information handling system and the seconddisplay to wireless-based communication with the information handlingsystem based upon a comparison of the image refresh rate of the firstand second displays.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the cablecomprises plural data lanes operable to communicate information, atleast one of the data lanes selectively configurable to communicateeither information or power, the method further comprising selectivelycommunicating between the information handling system and pluralperipherals through the cable and through wireless networking resourcesbased upon whether the at least one of the data lanes is configured tocommunicate information or power.
 13. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising: interfacing a second information handling system with thedocking station through a wireless interface; and selectivelyestablishing peer-to-peer communication between the information handlingsystems based upon instructions initiated from the docking station. 14.The method of claim 13 wherein the second information handling systemcomprises a mobile telephone.
 15. A docking station comprising: ahousing; one or more docking ports disposed at the housing, each dockingport configured to interface with an information handling system dockingconnector; one or more peripheral ports disposed at the housing, eachperipheral port configured to interface with a peripheral device;wireless networking resources disposed in the housing and configured tointerface with one or more information handling systems and one or moreperipherals through one or more wireless protocols; a docking managerdisposed in the housing and interfaced with the one or more dockingports, the docking manager operable to assign tasks to data lanes of theone or more docking ports for supporting operation of an informationhandling system; and a virtual wireless access point disposed in thehousing and interfaced with the docking manager, the virtual wirelessaccess point operable to assign wireless communication tasks to thewireless networking resources based upon tasks assigned to the datalanes.
 16. The docking station of claim 15 further comprising: a firstdisplay having a wired interface with a first of the plural peripheralports and a wireless interface with the wireless networking resources;and a second display having a wired interface with a second of theplural peripheral ports and a wireless interface with the wirelessnetworking resources; wherein the virtual wireless access point isfurther operable to selectively assign wireless networking resources anddata lanes to communicate display information between an informationhandling system and the first and second displays based upon one or morepredetermined factors.
 17. The docking station of claim 16 wherein thepredetermined factors comprise the refresh rate of images presented atfirst and second displays.
 18. The docking station of claim 16 whereinthe predetermined factors comprise a configuration of one or more datalanes to provide power to the information handling system.
 19. Thedocking station of claim 16 wherein the virtual wireless access pointassigns wireless networking resources by directing direct communicationof display information from the information handling system to one ormore of the first and second displays with wireless networking resourcesof the information handling system and one or more of the first andsecond displays.
 20. The docking station of claim 15 wherein the virtualwireless access point is further operable to manage transfer ofinformation between first and second information handling systems withthe wireless networking resources by establishing peer-to-peer wirelesscommunication between the first and second information handling systems.